U.S. patent application number 11/132479 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-08 for method and user interface for entering characters.
This patent application is currently assigned to Nokia Corporation. Invention is credited to Tokkonen, Timo.
Application Number | 20050270269 11/132479 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32187251 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050270269 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tokkonen, Timo |
December 8, 2005 |
Method and user interface for entering characters
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for entering characters in a
user interface of an electronic device. The method according to the
invention comprises: detecting the direction of movement indicated
by the input device when the start of the character entering
function has been detected; showing the character of the character
area on the display, towards which character area the direction of
movement indicated by the input device is proceeding; detecting the
termination of the character entering function; interpreting the
character towards whose character area the direction of movement
was last detected to proceed as the character to be entered next,
when the termination of the character entering function is
detected.
Inventors: |
Tokkonen, Timo; (Oulu,
FI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Crawford Maunu PLLC
Suite 390
1270 Northland Drive
St. Paul
MN
55120
US
|
Assignee: |
Nokia Corporation
|
Family ID: |
32187251 |
Appl. No.: |
11/132479 |
Filed: |
May 19, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11132479 |
May 19, 2005 |
|
|
|
PCT/FI03/00889 |
Nov 19, 2003 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
345/156 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0236 20130101;
G06F 3/0482 20130101; G06F 3/04883 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/156 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 20, 2002 |
EP |
02102606.7 |
Claims
1. Method for entering characters in a user interface of an
electronic device, the user interface comprising: a display and an
input device, the method comprising: predetermining a given
character area on the display for each character, which character
areas are in relation with each other in order to achieve a given
character area pattern; detecting a start of a character entering
function; detecting a starting point on the display on the basis of
the detected start of the character entering function, the method
further comprising: detecting the direction of movement indicated
by the input device when the start of the character entering
function has been detected; showing the character of the character
area on the display towards which character area the direction of
movement indicated by the input device is proceeding; detecting the
termination of the character entering function; interpreting the
character towards whose character area the direction of movement
was last detected to proceed as the character to be entered next,
when the termination of the character entering function is
detected.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the
direction of movement further comprises detecting the most probable
character area on the display towards which character area the
direction of movement indicated by the input device is proceeding
and the step of showing the character further comprises showing on
the display the character of the most probable character area on
the display towards which character area the direction of movement
indicated by the input device is proceeding.
3. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising
determining, on the basis of the location of the starting point,
the locations of the character areas on the display, which
character areas for the characters are in form of the given
character area pattern.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the start
of the character entering function comprises detecting the start of
the character entering function on the basis of a touch on the
display.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the start
of the character entering function comprises detecting the start of
the character entering function on the basis of a start signal
given with the input device.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the
termination of the character entering function comprises detecting
the termination of the character entering function when the
movement indicated by the input device stops.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the
termination of the character entering function comprises detecting
the termination of the character entering function on the basis of
a signal given with the input device.
8. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising detecting
the speed of the movement indicated by the input device, when the
start of the character entering function has been detected and the
step of detecting the termination of the character entering
function comprises detecting the termination of the character
entering function when the speed of the movement indicated by the
input device is of a predetermined value.
9. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising detecting
control commands for editing the entered character, based on
successive detections of sudden direction changes of movements
indicated by the input device.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said character being one or more
letters, digits, images or a combination thereof including two or
more characters.
11. User interface for entering characters in an electronic device,
the user interface comprising: a display for showing the entered
characters; an input device for giving control commands for
entering the characters; a control unit for controlling the
functions of the user interface, the control unit being connected
to the display and configured to: show characters on the display;
receive control commands from the input device; predetermine a
given character area on the display for each character, which
character areas are in relation with each other in order to achieve
a given character area pattern; detect a start of a character
entering function; detect a starting point on the display on the
basis of the detected start of the character entering function,
wherein the control unit is further configured to: detect the
direction of movement indicated by the input device when the start
of the character entering function has been detected; show the
character of the character area on the display towards which
character area the direction of movement indicated by the input
device is proceeding; detect the termination of the character
entering function; interpret the character towards whose character
area the direction of movement was last detected to proceed as the
character to be entered next, when the termination of the character
entering function is detected.
12. The user interface of claim 11, wherein the control unit is
configured to detect the most probable character area on the
display, towards which character area the direction of movement
indicated by the input device is proceeding, and to show on the
display the character of the most probable character area on the
display, towards which character area the direction of movement
indicated by the input device is proceeding.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured
to determine, on the basis of the location of the starting point,
the locations of the character areas on the display.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured
to detect the start of the character entering function on the basis
of a touch on the display.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured
to detect the start of the character entering function on the basis
of a start signal given with the input device.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured
to detect the termination of the character entering function when
the movement indicated by the input device stops.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured
to detect the termination of the character entering function on the
basis of a signal given with the input device.
18. A computer program product encoding a computer program of
instructions for executing a computer process for entering
characters in a user interface of an electronic device, the user
interface comprising: a display and an input device, the process
comprising: predetermining a given character area on the display
for each character, which character areas are in relation with each
other in order to achieve a given character area pattern; detecting
a start of a character entering function; detecting a starting
point on the display on the basis of the detected start of the
character entering function, the process further comprising:
detecting the direction of movement indicated by the input device
when the start of the character entering function has been
detected; showing the character of the character area on the
display towards which character area the direction of movement
indicated by the input device is proceeding; detecting the
termination of the character entering function; interpreting the
character towards whose character area the direction of movement
was last detected to proceed as the character to be entered next,
when the termination of the character entering function is
detected.
19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the process
further comprises detecting the most probable character area on the
display towards which character area the direction of movement
indicated by the input device is proceeding and showing on the
display the character of the most probable character area on the
display towards which character area the direction of movement
indicated by the input device is proceeding.
20. User interface for entering characters in an electronic device,
the user interface comprising: display means for showing the
entered characters; input means for giving control commands for
entering the characters; processing means for controlling the
functions of the user interface, the processing means being
connected to the display means and configured to: show characters
on the display; receive control commands from the input means;
predetermine a given character area on the display for each
character, which character areas are in relation with each other in
order to achieve a given character area pattern; detect a start of
a character entering function; detect a starting point on the
display on the basis of the detected start of the character
entering function, wherein processing means further comprise:
detection means for detecting the direction of movement indicated
by the input device when the start of the character entering
function has been detected; means for showing the character of the
character area on the display towards which character area the
direction of movement indicated by the input device is proceeding;
means for detecting the termination of the character entering
function; interpreting means for interpreting the character towards
whose character area the direction of movement was last detected to
proceed as the character to be entered next, when the termination
of the character entering function is detected.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of International
Application PCT/FI2003/000889, with an international filing date of
19 Nov. 2003, which designated the U.S. and which is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD
[0002] The invention relates to a method for entering characters in
a user interface of an electronic device, and a user interface of
an electronic device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Electronic devices, such as mobile telephones, are
continuously reduced in size. A special problem in the usage of an
electronic device is the entering of text. Eventually the keypad
used in electronic devices, such as a character keypad, becomes
impracticable, because it is difficult for the user of the device
to press extremely small keys. Since separate keypads in the
devices increase the size of the devices, small electronic devices
with only a touch screen as the user interface have become common.
In electronic devices, touch screens are often used to replace the
mouse and the keypad, for example. The user gives control commands
to the device by touching contact areas visible on the touch
screen.
[0004] Several portable devices are provided with a feature that
identifies handwriting, by means of which the device converts
handwritten text, for example, into composed text. There are
different automatic identification methods of handwritten symbols
in which the characters of the entered text are written directly on
the touch screen. The user writes characters in an area for writing
characters on a touch screen by means of a pen or a finger, for
example. The device then identifies the written character based on
the detected contact points in said area. Also some text entry
systems have been proposed, wherein the characters visible on the
touch screen of an electronic device are selected by sliding a pen
or a finger over the character to be entered.
[0005] The current text entry systems, such as handwriting or
speech recognition systems, are often slow and error prone. Also in
the handwriting systems the area reserved on the touch screen for
writing characters is small, which makes it hard to write in said
area in a moving vehicle, for example. If the selection of the
characters is conducted by sliding a pen over the desired character
visible on the touch screen, it is difficult to hit the correct
character when, for example, the writer's hand shakes in a rush
hour bus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a method and a
user interface so as to alleviate prior art problems. This is
achieved by a method for entering characters in a user interface of
an electronic device, the user interface comprising: a display and
an input device, the method comprising: predetermining a given
character area on the display for each character, which character
areas are in relation with each other in order to achieve a given
character area pattern; detecting a start of a character entering
function; detecting a starting point on the display on the basis of
the detected start of the character entering function. The method
of the invention comprises: detecting the direction of movement
indicated by the input device when the start of the character
entering function has been detected; showing the character of the
character area on the display towards which character area the
direction of movement indicated by the input device is proceeding;
detecting the termination of the character entering function and
interpreting the character towards whose character area the
direction of movement was last detected to proceed as the character
to be entered next, when the termination of the character entering
function is detected.
[0007] The invention also relates to a user interface for entering
characters in an electronic device, the user interface comprising:
a display for showing the entered characters; an input device for
giving control commands for entering the characters; a control unit
for controlling the functions of the user interface, the control
unit being connected to the display and configured to: show
characters on the display; receive control commands from the input
device; predetermine a given character area on the display for each
character, which character areas are in relation with each other in
order to achieve a given character area pattern; detect a start of
a character entering function; detect a starting point on the
display on the basis of the detected start of the character
entering function. The control unit is further configured to:
detect the direction of movement indicated by the input device,
when the start of the character entering function has been
detected; show the character of the character area on the display,
towards which character area the direction of movement indicated by
the input device is proceeding; detect the termination of the
character entering function and interpret the character towards
whose character area the direction of movement was last detected to
proceed as the character to be entered next, when the termination
of the character entering function is detected.
[0008] The invention further relates to a computer program product
encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a
computer process for entering characters in a user interface of an
electronic device, the user interface comprising: a display and an
input device, the process comprising: predetermining a given
character area on the display for each character, which character
areas are in relation with each other in order to achieve a given
character area pattern; detecting a start of a character entering
function; detecting a starting point on the display on the basis of
the detected start of the character entering function, the process
further comprising: detecting the direction of movement indicated
by the input device when the start of the character entering
function has been detected; showing the character of the character
area on the display towards which character area the direction of
movement indicated by the input device is proceeding; detecting the
termination of the character entering function; interpreting the
character towards whose character area the direction of movement
was last detected to proceed as the character to be entered next,
when the termination of the character entering function is
detected.
[0009] The invention also relates to a user interface for entering
characters in an electronic device, the user interface comprising:
display means for showing the entered characters; input means for
giving control commands for entering the characters; processing
means for controlling the functions of the user interface, the
processing means being connected to the display means and
configured to: show characters on the display; receive control
commands from the input means; predetermine a given character area
on the display for each character, which character areas are in
relation with each other in order to achieve a given character area
pattern; detect a start of a character entering function; detect a
starting point on the display on the basis of the detected start of
the character entering function, wherein processing means further
comprise: detection means for detecting the direction of movement
indicated by the input device when the start of the character
entering function has been detected; means for showing the
character of the character area on the display towards which
character area the direction of movement indicated by the input
device is proceeding; means for detecting the termination of the
character entering function; interpreting means for interpreting
the character towards whose character area the direction of
movement was last detected to proceed as the character to be
entered next, when the termination of the character entering
function is detected.
[0010] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the
dependent claims.
[0011] The method and the user interface of the invention provide
several advantages. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the
method of entering characters is especially fast, easy and
accurate. Great accuracy is not required of the users of the user
interface according to the invention in order to select the right
characters to be entered.
LIST OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] In the following, the invention will be described in greater
detail with reference to the preferred embodiments and the
accompanying drawings, in which
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a device of the invention,
[0014] FIGS. 2A and 2B show details of a display of the device of
the invention,
[0015] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention,
and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The embodiments of the invention are applicable to portable
electronic devices, such as a mobile station used as a terminal in
telecommunication systems comprising one or more base stations and
terminals communicating with the base stations. The device may be
used for short-range communication implemented with a Bluetooth
chip, an infrared or WLAN connection, for example. The portable
electronic device is for example a mobile telephone or another
device including telecommunication means, such as a portable
computer, a handheld computer or a smart telephone. The portable
electronic device may be a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) device
including the necessary telecommunication means for establishing a
network connection, or a PDA device that can be coupled to a mobile
telephone, for instance, for a network connection. The portable
electronic device may also be a computer or PDA device not
including telecommunication means.
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the structure of a portable
electronic device. A control unit 100, typically implemented by
means of a microprocessor and software or separate components,
controls the basic functions of the device. The user interface of
the device comprises a display 104, such as a touch screen
implemented by manners known per se. In addition, the user
interface of the device may include a loudspeaker and a keypad
part. Depending on the type of device, there may be different and a
different number of user interface parts. The device of FIG. 1,
such as a mobile station, also includes conventional means 108 that
implement the functions of a mobile station and include speech and
channel coders, modulators and RF parts. The device also comprises
an antenna 110.
[0019] The functions of the device are controlled by means of an
input device, such as a mouse 106, a hand-held locator operated by
moving it on a surface. When using a mouse 106, for example, a sign
or symbol shows the location of a mouse cursor on the display 104
and often also the function running in the device, or its state. It
is also possible that the display 104 is by itself the input device
achieved by means of a touch screen such that the desired functions
are selected by touching the desired objects visible on the display
104. The touch on the display 104 is carried out by means of a pen
or a finger, for example.
[0020] The input device 104, 106 is for giving control commands for
entering the characters. The control unit 100 controls the
functions of the user interface and is connected to the display 104
and configured to show characters on the display 104. The control
unit 100 receives control commands from the input device 104, 106.
The entered character may be one or more letters, digits, images or
a combination thereof including two or more characters. It is
possible that there are different functions for entering certain
kinds of characters. Thus, the characters of the alphabet and the
numbers, for example, have separate specific character entering
functions.
[0021] The characters are entered in a character entering function
controlled by the control unit 100 of the electronic device. The
character entering function operates such that the desired
characters visible on the display 104, for example, are first
selected by means of the input device. Then, the control unit
interprets the selected character as the character to be entered
next and displays the character on the display 104. In an
embodiment of the invention the control unit 100 detects a start of
a character entering function. The start of the character entering
function is detected for instance on the basis of a touch on the
display 104. Alternatively, the start of the character entering
function is detected by means of a start signal given with an input
device 104, 106. A touch on the display 104 results in the software
in the memory of the control unit 100 detecting the start of the
character entering function, and after that, the control unit 100
detects a starting point on the display 104, based on the detected
start of the character entering function. The starting point on the
display 104 may be a touch point on the display or a point where a
mouse cursor was located at the moment when the start of the
character entering function was detected, for example.
[0022] According to an embodiment of the invention, the control
unit is configured to predetermine a given character area on the
display 104 for each entered character, such as a character of the
alphabet. The character areas are in relation with each other in
order to form a given character area pattern. The character areas
may virtually form a certain pattern, such as a circle or a
triangle, on the display 104. Other possible character area
patterns are linear lines, for example. The locations of the
character areas on the display 104 are based on the location of the
starting point, for example. If the character areas are in relation
to the starting point on the display 104, the locations of the
character areas change according to the location of the starting
point. During the character entering function, the characters are
not visible on the display 104. It is possible, however, that the
character areas are visible on the display 104. Alternatively, the
character areas and/or the characters are visible on the display
104.
[0023] When the start of the character entering function has been
detected, the control unit 100 detects a direction of movement
indicated by the input device 104, 106. The direction of movement
is detected on the basis of a direction vector between the starting
point and another point on the display 104, to which other point
the touch of the pen or the cursor of the mouse on the display 104
moves, for example. Next, the character of the character area on
the display 104, towards which character area the direction of
movement indicated by the input device 104, 106 is proceeding, is
shown on the display 104. Thus, only the character of the character
area, towards which character area the direction of movement is
proceeding, is visible on the display 104. Alternatively, if all
the characters are visible on the display, the character of the
character area, towards which the direction of movement is
proceeding, is shown with the help of outlining or lights, for
example. The character area towards which the direction of movement
is proceeding is determined in the control unit 100 by appropriate
numerical methods, such as interpolation or extrapolation, known
per se.
[0024] The control unit 100 continues to monitor the direction of
movement indicated by the input device 104, 106. As the movement
indicated by the input device 104, 106 proceeds, the direction of
movement is recalculated after given periods of time. The latest
direction of movement is based on a direction vector calculated by
means of two points selected from the route of the movement on the
display 104, the two points being at a given distance apart from
each other, for example. If a change in the direction of movement
is detected, then another character of the character area, towards
which character area the new direction of movement is proceeding,
is shown on the display 104. The direction of movement can be
determined also such that after the calculation of the direction
vector, the starting point on the display 104 is interpreted to be
also the starting point for the direction vector. Thus, the
detection of the last direction of movement is based on the
location of the starting point on the display 104 as well, for
example.
[0025] The control unit 100 continues to monitor the direction of
movement and to show the characters until termination of the
character entering function is detected. The termination of the
character entering function is detected when the movement indicated
by the input device stops, for example. Alternatively the
termination of the character entering function is detected on the
basis of a signal given with the input device. In an embodiment of
the invention, the speed of the movement indicated by the input
device is detected after the start of the character entering
function has been detected, and the termination of the character
entering function is detected when the speed of the movement
indicated by the input device is of a predetermined value.
[0026] The control unit 100 interprets the character towards whose
character area the direction of movement was last detected to
proceed as the character to be entered next when the termination of
the character entering function is detected. The entered character
is shown in an area for entered characters on the display 104, for
example.
[0027] If the termination of the character entering function is
detected when the movement indicated by the input device stops, a
given period of time can be predetermined to lapse, during which
time the movement of the input device is to be on halt, before the
character towards whose character area the direction of movement
was last detected to proceed is shown on the display 104. Thus, if
the user of the electronic device wishes to interrupt the entering
of the characters, lifting the input device off the display before
the given period of time has lapsed, results in exiting the
character entering function without any character selection. The
detection of lifting the input device off the display can be
predetermined to result in other effects as well.
[0028] Let us next study embodiments of the invention by means of
FIGS. 2A and 2B. FIGS. 2A and 2B show a display 200 of an
electronic device, such as a PDA device. The characters are
selected by means of an input device, such as a pen or a mouse. A
character, in turn, is one or more letters, digits, images or a
combination thereof including two or more symbols. In FIGS. 2A and
2B the characters are letters of the alphabet. When wishing to
start entering characters, the user of the device first starts the
character entering function by using a pen or a mouse, for example.
FIGS. 2A and 2B shown a starting point 216 on the display 200,
which starting point 216 is detected on the basis of the detected
start of the character entering function. The user may, for
example, touch the display 200 with a pen in order to start the
character entering function. Then the starting point 216 is, for
example, a point on the display 200 where the pen first touched. In
FIGS. 2A and 2B the predetermined character areas 202, 204, 206,
208, 210, 212 on the display 200 are also shown. On the display 200
there is also an area 218 for the entered characters.
[0029] In FIG. 2A the character areas 202-212 virtually form a
circle 214 around the starting point 216. A separate character area
202-212 is predetermined for each character in relation with each
other and to the starting point 216, for example. Thereby, where
ever on the display 200 the starting point 216 is detected to
locate, the character areas 202-212 are always at the same
locations on the display 200 in relation to the starting point 216.
For example, in FIG. 2A the character areas 202-212 are in a
circular form. The character areas 202-212 are predetermined in the
settings of the electronic device by the manufacturer, for example.
Alternatively, the user of the device chooses the desired character
areas 202-212 by using different setting options of the device.
[0030] In order to choose a desired character to be entered, the
user of the device next starts to move the pen, for example, on the
display 200 towards the given character area 202-212 of the desired
character. The characters to be entered are, for example, invisible
on the display 200. As the user moves the pen towards a given
character area 202-212, the character of the character area 202-212
towards which the movement of the pen is detected to proceed is
shown on the display 200 by means of lights or outlining, for
example. When the desired character is shown on the display, the
user then selects the character by terminating the character
entering function. The termination of the character entering
function is detected when the user stops moving the pen or lifts
the pen off the display 200, for example. Alternatively, the
termination of the character entering function is detected when the
user presses a key of the mouse, for example.
[0031] In the situation of FIG. 2A the user has already entered
some characters shown in the area for entered characters 218. Next
the user wishes to enter the character "s". At first the user
touches the display with the pen at the starting point 216. The
starting point 216 is, for example, at the point on the display
that the touch of the pen hits first. Then the user starts moving
the pen towards the character areas 202-212. In FIG. 2A the route
220 of the pen moving on the display 200 is also shown. At first,
the pen has moved towards the character area 210. The character of
the character area 210 is shown on the display 200 with lights, for
example. When the user notices, on the basis of the characters
shown on the display, that the movement of the pen is going to the
wrong direction, he then adjusts the direction of the movement of
the pen. Moving the pen towards the character area 212, which
character area 212 is predetermined for the character "s", shows
the character "s" on the display 200. The user only has to move the
pen for as long as the desired character is shown on the display
200.
[0032] In FIG. 2A the pen is moved only a short distance on the
display 200, along the route 220 of the moving pen. As soon as the
character area 212 towards which the direction of movement
indicated by the pen is proceeding is detected, the movement of the
pen can be stopped. The last detected direction of movement, before
the detection of the termination of the character entering
function, is shown in FIG. 2A with a dashed arrow 222. As the user
notices the desired character "s" on the display 200, he terminates
the character entering function in order to enter the character
"s". As the termination of the character entering function is
detected, the character "s" is shown in the area 218 for entered
characters. In order to enter the next character the user starts
the character entering function, by touching the display 200 with a
pen, for example.
[0033] If he has accidentally entered a wrong character or wishes
to remove character already entered for some reason, the user may
give control commands for editing the entered character. The
control commands for editing are, for example, based on successive
detections of sudden direction changes of movements indicated by
the input device, such as the pen. The control command for removing
the entered character comprises, for example, moving the pen first
to the right and then moving the pen back to the left. Also other
functions can be based on detections of sudden direction changes of
movements indicated by the input device. Thus, for example, the
entering of special characters or spaces can be accomplished by
moving the input device in different directions in a predetermined
fashion. The user may predetermine given successive movements of
the input device to be associated to certain functions.
[0034] For a situation when the character entering function is in
progress and the user wishes to stop entering characters entirely
without selecting any characters, it is possible to predetermine a
specific ending signal, the character entering function being
interrupted once the ending signal has been detected by the control
unit of the user interface. The detection of the input device
moving randomly back and forth on the display, for example, can be
interpreted as such an ending signal.
[0035] In FIG. 2B the areas 202-212 for the characters are linear
in such a way that the character areas 202-212 are virtually
forming two linear lines 213, 215 on the display 200 and on
different sides of the starting point 216. Alternatively, all the
character areas 202-212 can virtually form a single linear line
213, 215 on the display 200. It is possible that only a few
character areas 202-212 for certain characters, such as the
characters most commonly used, are located on the other side of the
starting point 216 than where all the other character areas 202-212
for the other characters are located.
[0036] In an embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2B
there is a character showing area 224 for showing the character of
the character area 202-212 towards which the direction of movement
of the input device is last detected to proceed. Additionally, the
characters of the character areas 202-212 towards which the
direction of movement of the input device is detected to proceed
can be indicated with lights, outlining or with sounds of different
tone height, for example.
[0037] Also in the situation of FIG. 2B the user has already
entered some characters shown in the area for entered characters
218. Next the user wishes to enter the character "s". At first the
user touches the display with the pen at the starting point 216.
The starting point 216 is, for example, at the point on the display
that the touch of the pen hits first. In FIG. 2B the arrow lines
219, 220, 221, 225 illustrate the different directions to which the
user moves the pen at given times. The user starts moving the pen
towards the character areas 202-217. First, the direction of the
movement of the pen, indicated by the arrow line 219, is towards
the character area 208 for the letter "m". The letter "m" of the
character area 208 is shown on the display 200 when the user is
moving the pen towards it. The letter "m" is shown in the character
showing area 224, for example. The user notices that the movement
of the pen is going in the wrong direction and he next moves the
pen slightly in another direction indicated by the arrow line 220.
Next the direction of the pen proceeds towards the area 210 for the
letter "n". Once again, the letter towards which the movement of
the pen is detected to proceed is shown on the display 200 in the
character showing area 224, for example. The user then adjusts the
direction of the movement of the pen a bit more until the
direction, indicated by the arrow line 221, is towards the
character area 212 for the letter "s". When the user moves the pen
towards the character area 212 for the letter "s", the letter "s"
is shown on the display 200. The last direction in which the
movement of the pen is detected to proceed, before the character
entering function is terminated, is indicated with the dashed arrow
222.
[0038] In FIGS. 2A and 2B the last direction of movement indicated
by the pen is detected on the basis of a direction vector generated
with the help of two points from the route of the movement on the
display 104, the two points being at a given distance from each
other, for example. In FIG. 2B, for example, the two points
defining the direction vector indicated by the arrow line 221 are
located at the beginning and at the end of the arrow line 221. If
the last direction of movement were detected based on the starting
point 216 as well, the situation in FIGS. 2A and 2B would be
different in such a way that the direction vector, indicated by the
arrow line 221, would then be considered to virtually start from
the starting point 216. The arrow line 225 shows the new location
of the direction vector, corresponding to the arrow line 221 when
the direction of movement is detected based on the starting point
216 as well. Here, the direction of movement indicated by the arrow
line 225 would be interpreted to proceed towards the character area
217 for the letter "u", for example. Thus, the last direction in
which the movement of the pen would be detected to proceed before
the character entering function is terminated is indicated with the
dashed arrow 226.
[0039] Once again, the user only has to move the pen for as long as
the desired letter "s" is shown on the display 200. In the
situation of FIG. 2B, the letter "s" is shown on the display 200
when the pen is at the end of the arrow 221 that is proceeding
towards the character area 212 for the letter "s", for example.
Different limits can be preset to predetermine how long and/or for
how far the pen, for example, has to be moved in a certain
direction before the character of the character area 202-217
towards which the movement of the pen is detected to proceed, is
shown on the display 200. In an embodiment of the invention it is
also possible that when the direction of movement of the input
device is detected to change, a second character area 202-217 next
to the first character area 202-217 towards which the direction of
movement was first indicated to proceed, is shown on the display
even before the direction of movement of the input device actually
is detected to proceed exactly towards the second character area
202-217.
[0040] When satisfied with the character shown on the display 200,
the user terminates the character entering function by stopping the
movement of the pen, for example. As the termination of the
character entering function is detected, the character "s" is shown
in the area 218 for entered characters. In order to enter the next
character the user starts the character entering function, by
touching the display 200 with a pen, for example, or by continuing
the movement of the pen after the previous character has been
selected. Thus, it is possible to enter the desired characters even
without lifting the pen from the display 200 between the character
selections.
[0041] Let us next study an embodiment of the invention by means of
FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the character entering
method. A separate character area is predetermined for each
character on the display, which character areas are in relation
with each other. In block 300 the device is in an idle state and
monitors the state of the user interface. In the idle state the
start of the character entering function by touching the display of
the user interface, for example, is feasible. Giving a start signal
with another input device can start the character entering function
as well. Such an input device may be for instance a separate
keypad, provided the device comprises a keypad, and the start
signal is for instance the depression of a given key or keys of the
keypad. The input device may also be the display itself or a start
signal area specified in the display area, the touching of which
starts the character entering function.
[0042] If in block 302 the control unit detects the start of the
character entering function, based for instance on a start signal
given with an input device, the starting point on the display is
detected and block 304 is entered, where the control unit starts
detecting the direction of movement indicated by the input device.
When the control unit has detected the direction of movement
indicated by the input device, block 306 is entered, where the
character of the character area towards which the direction of
movement is directed, is shown on the display. Alternatively, the
character is shown only after the direction of the movement
indicated by the input device has been to the same direction for a
given period of time. In an embodiment of the invention it is also
possible that the most probable character area on the display
towards which the direction of movement indicated by the input
device is proceeding is detected in block 304, and in block 306 the
character of the most probable character area on the display
towards which the direction of movement indicated by the input
device is proceeding is shown on the display.
[0043] In block 308 possible changes in the direction of movement
is observed. If in block 308 a change in the direction of movement
is detected, block 304 is re-entered, where the direction of
movement is detected. If in block 308 no changes in the direction
of movement are detected, block 310 is entered, where the
termination of the character entering function is monitored. If in
block 310 no termination of the character entering function is
detected, block 306 remains, where the character of the character
area towards which the direction of movement is directed, is shown
on the display. When the termination of the character entering
function in block 310 is detected, block 312 is entered, where the
character towards whose character area the direction of movement
was last detected to proceed is interpreted as the character to be
entered next. Finally, in block 314 the interpreted character is
shown on the display, in the area for entered characters, for
example.
[0044] Let us next study another embodiment of the invention by
means of FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the character
entering method. In block 400 a separate character area is
predetermined for each character on the display, which character
areas are in relation with each other in order to achieve a given
character area pattern. In block 402 the device is in an idle state
and monitors the state of the user interface. If in block 404 the
control unit detects the start of the character entering function,
based for instance on a start signal given with an input device,
the starting point on the display is detected and block 406 is
entered, where the control unit determines, on the basis of the
location of the starting point, the locations of the character
areas on the display. Thus, where ever on the display the starting
point is detected to locate, the character areas are always in
relation with the starting point. The character areas may be in
form of a circle around the starting point, for example.
[0045] In block 408 the control unit starts detecting the direction
of movement indicated by the input device. When the control unit
has detected the direction of movement indicated by the input
device, block 410 is entered, where the character of the character
area towards which the direction of movement is directed is shown
on the display. Then, if in block 412 a change in the direction of
movement is detected, block 408 is re-entered. If in block 412 no
changes in the direction of movement are detected, block 414 is
entered, where the termination of the character entering function
is monitored. If in block 414 no termination of the character
entering function is detected, block 410 remains. When the
termination of the character entering function in block 414 is
detected, block 416 is entered, where the character towards whose
character area the direction of movement was last detected to
proceed is interpreted as the character to be entered next.
Finally, in block 418 the interpreted character is shown on the
display, in the area for entered characters, for example.
[0046] Even though the invention is described above with reference
to an example according to the accompanying drawings, it is clear
that the invention is not restricted thereto but it can be modified
in several ways within the scope of the appended claims.
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